Forum shows there’s a long way to go on concussion front

Guelph Mercury

It was an innocent, but relatively telling end to an interesting evening.

As things wound down at Tuesday’s concussion symposium at the Delta Hotel, moderator Ken Dryden asked for questions from the floor. Shortly thereafter local physician Jonathan Davids, who specializes in sports medicine, took the microphone.

Davids pointed out that a discussion on concussions should include a discussion on fighting in hockey. As Davids pointed out, “a blow to the head is a blow to the head.”

This caused Dryden to step out of the fatherly tour guide character he had been most of the night to challenge the doctor. As Dryden sees it, bringing fighting into the concussion debate is counterproductive and is a “disservice” to the debate on concussions.

How symbolic was it that a discussion on concussions ended up with two intelligent, caring, informed professionals disagreeing on what was right.

One of the prevailing hurdles the issue of concussion faces is the diversity of knowledge and understanding how concussions should be dealt with by those closest to them: doctors, trainers, coaches, parents, teachers and administrators.

For every doctor like Guelph’s Margo Mountjoy, an expert in the field, there are ones like those mentioned anecdotally on Tuesday whose knowledge and advice to concussion victims is sparse at best. Sufferers and their families are often left confused.

For every organization like the Ontario Hockey League, where baseline tests and protocol rule, there is one like Guelph Minor Hockey, where it took two years of a pilot project to get 80 per cent compliance with baseline testing by players.

For every coach that removes a kid from the game, there is one looking to get them back in the game at almost any cost.

This is not to cast a shadow on what was a well-meaning, informative evening. But as is often the case, the problem lies with those not at the meeting, not those who were there.

Concussion knowledge and treatment, or at least for the 10 per cent of concussions that are serious, is pretty much in its infancy. Doctors are only just learning how to deal with them, many coaches and trainers are just getting educated on how to identify them, and parents and teachers are still learning the effects can reach far beyond the sporting arenas.

Cohesiveness of knowledge and experience is an important step. If 100 people got concussions in Guelph, chances are they would see 100 different doctors, many with different depths of knowledge and experience. As the field evolves, hopefully those getting a concussion will be sent to see a concussion specialist, much like they might for issues with feet, backs, hearts and eyes.

What is apparent is that the culture is changing, that there are those willing and looking to make change. To make sports safer for athletes and athletes safe before they return to sport.

It is a gradual process but one that in time will create more consensus than conflict, more comfort than confusion and—most of all—a healthier environment for athletes.